New Branches Ahead

Still on the topic of feeling stuck.....I recenlty came across an image that hit me harder than I expected. Its not the first time I've seen it either, but it resonated with me differently this time.

You have probably seen it too. Its a simple diagram of a life path, one green line cutting through a tangle of black ones, representing choices made and paths closed off. On the left side: the past, narrow and fixed. On the right: the future, branching wildly outward in every direction.

What struck me wasn’t the past. It was Today.

Like many people, I sometimes get stuck in the loop of “what if....” What if I had taken a different role? What if I had chased a different passion sooner? What if I hadn’t let certain opportunities pass me by? The black lines on the left side of the image feel like those moments.....paths closed, doors that no amount of energy or regret will reopen.

But then noticing that 'TODAY" line felt freeing, like a turning point. The spot where new green paths spread outward. It’s a reminder that even when the past feels set in stone, the future is not. Every decision I make now, big or small, can branch into something new.

Again, in the context of my career, this hits close to home. Feeling stuck is real. Burnout is real. The weight of not knowing the “right” next move can be paralyzing. But what this image reminded me of is that being at “today” means I still have options. New directions, new skills to learn, new ways of aligning work with my values. All of those are still on the table.

The past may be a single, fixed line, but the future is alive with possibility. And sometimes, that reminder is enough to take a small step forward, trusting that each step opens new branches we can’t yet see.